Federal-Mogul’s Chapel-en-le-Frith Factory Highly Commended for Performance Improvement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) September 23, 2009 --

The Federal-Mogul manufacturing plant in Chapel-en-le-Frith has been highly commended in the ‘Most Improved Plant’ category of the Best Factory Awards in recognition of a successful performance improvement strategy. The praise was given at an awards ceremony in London on 18th September, run by the Cranfield School of Management in partnership with Works Management magazine. The plant – which makes brake disc pads and linings for original equipment vehicle manufacturers, the automotive aftermarket (where products are sold under the Ferodo® brand) and the rail industry – has significantly increased production flow for high volume products while reducing its impact on the environment through waste reduction, segregation and returnable packaging initiatives.

“We are very proud indeed to have been highly commended in the Most Improved Plant category of these prestigious awards,” says Peter Varnsverry, plant manager, Federal-Mogul. “This external recognition is well-deserved by everyone at the plant for their efforts to significantly improve our productivity. This award is motivation to continue our performance improvements. We’ve found the whole experience of being benchmarked against other UK factories most worthwhile.”

The committed workforce at the Chapel-en-le-Frith factory has been closely involved in enhancing the plant’s performance, with individual teams empowered to manage improvement activities in their respective areas.

Senior management has led with positive encouragement and a great deal of focus has been placed on training and ensuring that all employees have the right skills required for their job. As the plant has reduced lead times and increased its output of finished products, it has been able to compete more effectively in the marketplace, responding more swiftly to customers’ needs and reducing the cost of production. Waste reduction and segregation initiatives, together with returnable packaging programmes, have also reduced the plant’s environmental impact.

The Best Factory Awards have been in existence for nearly 20 years and are designed to recognise those who run the UK’s manufacturing plants for their success and contribution to British manufacturing. Federal-Mogul was one of 13 plants shortlisted to receive the prestigious Best Factory award, which was won by Thorn Lighting Ltd. Works Management editorial director Ken Hurst said: " In my view, the future lies in factories like our Best Factory Award winners; even those running repetitive production lines over long shifts, but where people are empowered to make a difference to their own working lives and the prosperity of the companies they work for. These awards prove that the future well-being of manufacturing and the rebalancing of the UK economy is every bit as much about ordinary people making ordinary things in extraordinary ways, as it is about high value, high tech, knowledge-based businesses."